The July 6 accident in northern Chiang Mai province was caught on video that went viral and drew the ire of social-media users.
Tawatchai said the parents’ purchase of the high-powered motorbike for their son could be regarded as a violation of the Child Protection Act, since they were in effect inducing him to behave riskily.
Criminal charges, if laid, should not be regarded as compounding the family’s agony, he said, but rather serve as a caution to others. Parents must not put their children in harm’s way, he said.
Tawatchai said the boy also had to be held accountable because he caused the accident in which other people were also injured, on top of riding a motorcycle while underage.
People must be over 18 to obtain a driving licence for a motorcycle with an engine above 110cc. For engines under that capacity, a 15-year-old can get a licence.
The boy in this case, whose name has not been released, was allegedly driving his ZX10RR 1,000cc motorcycle at high speed in front of Sri Arun Plaza Market in Chiang Mai’s San Khamphaeng district.
He crashed into a second motorcycle carrying two elderly women, both of whom were injured, and a private car.